Freight Forwarders & Brokers – Industry Research, Analysis, Statistics, and Forecasts

SIC 4731 | NAICS 488510

This free online guide to industry research and analysis provides sources for industry statistics, trends, and forecasts, financial ratios, salary surveys, and more.

See the following sections listed below to view available resources by category:

Industry Analysis, Statistics, Trends, and Forecasts

Financial Statements and Financial Ratios

Compensation and Salary Surveys

BV Guides and Databases

For guides to other industries, see our index of over 400 industries.

Industry Analysis, Statistics, Trends, and Forecasts

Industry Research Reports
Freight Forwarding Brokerages & Agencies (view report)
Freight Packing & Logistics Services (view report)

Comprehensive industry research reports provide in-depth industry analysis and five-year forecasts, with special focus on the underlying structure and external forces and relationships that affect industries and their performance. Topics addressed in the reports include:

Market size and major product and service segments
Key industry statistics, trends, and financial ratios
Operating conditions and current performance
Competitive landscape and environment
Major company profiles and market shares
Five-year outlook and growth forecasts

Sample report and selected industry statistics including market size, five-year average growth rate, number of businesses, and total employment are available free online.

Transportation Intermediaries Association
About The Industry
https://www.tianet.org/

Introductory section provides a summary overview of the third party logistics industry, with topics covered in this section including the types of services that 3PLs provide, the role of TIA members in providing these services, the role of brokers as logistics service providers and the advantages of using a broker from a warehouse manager's standpoint, and how to start up a brokerage firm.

C. John Langley, Jr., Ph.D. / Capgemini Consulting
Third-Party Logistics Study
http://www.3plstudy.com/

Annual study examines the current state of the third-party logistics market, with each study including an in-depth look at special focus topics such as the 3PL decision-making environment, 3PL roles in supply chain transformation, utilizing big data analytics, and 3PL involvement in the end-of-life supply chain. Key findings are available online, with complete study available for download with registration.

Technavio
Resources available from this organization include:

3PL Market in the US
https://www.technavio.com/
Market research report provides in-depth analysis of the third-party logistics (3PL) market in the U.S., with information provided in the report including market size and revenue forecasts by type of service provided (e.g., VAWD - value-added warehousing and distribution, ITM - international transportation management, DTM - domestic transportation management, and DCC - dedicated contract carriage).

Global Freight Forwarding Market
https://www.technavio.com/
Market research study provides a detailed analysis of the freight forwarding market on a global basis, with topics addressed in the study including market segmentation by delivery mode (e.g., ocean, air) and type of service provided (e.g., packaging service, labeling service, documentation and purchase order management, transportation and warehousing service, and additional value-added services).

Global Airfreight Forwarding Market
https://www.technavio.com/
Comprehensive research study analyzes the airfreight forwarding market from a global perspective, with topics covered in the report including types of services provided (e.g., packaging and labeling, documentation and PO management, charter services, and transportation and warehousing) and end-users (e.g., manufacturing, fashion and textiles, pharmaceutical, healthcare, and technology).

BizMiner Market Analysis Reports
Freight Forwarders and Brokers
https://www.bizminer.com Search for "488510" to see available reports

Market analysis reports provide industry statistics for a user-defined area on a national, state, county, metro area, or zip code level, with data provided including number of companies, market volume and sales trends, average company sales, sales per employee, staffing and employment trends, average employee wage, and business start up activity and failure rates. Sample report can be viewed online.

More industry research reports »

Financial Statements and Financial Ratios

BizMiner Industry Financial Ratios
Freight Forwarders and Brokers

https://www.bizminer.com Search for "488510" to see available reports

Five-year financial statement analysis reports provide income statements, balance sheets, and key industry financial ratios for companies of all sizes, with financial data available by sales size range on a national, state, and metropolitan area level including:

Income and expenses in dollars and percentages
Balance sheets in dollars and percentages
Profitability and return on investment ratios
Liquidity and working capital ratios
Asset turnover and efficiency ratios
Capital structure and debt service ratios

Sample financial statement and ratio analysis report is available free online.

Industry Research Reports
Freight Forwarding Brokerages & Agencies

(see links for individual reports) (sample spreadsheet)

Key statistics section of these reports provides detailed income statements and balance sheets on a common-size basis and over twenty-five industry financial ratios, with financial ratios provided for the each of the four most recent calendar years and on a historical average basis for 3-year, 5-year, and 10-year time periods. Sample spreadsheet with breakdowns by asset size can be viewed free online.

More financial benchmarking data »

Compensation and Salary Surveys

Transportation Intermediaries Association
TIA Compensation Report / MeasureUp Compensation Analyzer
https://www.tianet.org/

Online compensation analyzer provides base salary, incentive pay, and total compensation data for over 40 job positions, including management, sales, operations, information technology, accounting, and HR personnel, employed by third-party logistics companies, with compensation data filterable by job position and specialization, experience level, professional designations, and geographic location.

PayScale, Inc.
Freight Forwarding
https://www.payscale.com/

Free online service provides salary, bonus, and hourly wage rate data for job positions in this industry such as operations manager, logistics coordinator, import/export coordinators, freight forwarder, and customs broker, with employers for which wage data is provided including Expeditors International of Washington, Inc., C. H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc., DHL Global Forwarding, Inc., and Panalpina, Inc.

More compensation surveys »

BV Guides and Databases

BVMarketData
Private Company Sales Transaction Databases
https://www.bvresources.com/

Free "Visitor Search" allows users to search the DealStats, BIZCOMPS, and FactSet/BVR databases for private company sales transaction data by SIC or NAICS Code using the following codes:

– SIC Code 4731 - Arrangement of Transportation of Freight and Cargo

– NAICS Code 488510 - Freight Transportation Arrangement

Types of establishments included in these codes

Freight forwarders - establishments specializing in arranging the transportation of goods between shippers and carriers that manage all facets of the shipping process, including booking cargo space, negotiating freight rates, and preparing all shipping documents.

Freight brokers - establishments serving as intermediaries between shippers and carriers that use their knowledge of the industry and their network of transportation providers to find the most suitable and cost-effective transportation solution for a specific shipment.

Freight agents - establishments providing support services to freight brokers by assisting with operational tasks such as coordinating pick-ups and deliveries, tracking shipments, preparing documentation, and maintaining communication with carriers and shippers.

Air freight forwarders - establishments primarily engaged in arranging and managing the transportation of freight by air that handle the entire process, including reserving cargo space, negotiating rates, managing shipping documentation, and tracking shipments.

Ocean freight forwarders - establishments primarily engaged in arranging and managing shipments by sea that handle the entire process from origin to destination, and provide expertise in optimizing routes, managing customs clearance, and tracking shipments.

Marine shipping agencies - establishments providing a variety of services to support the operations of ships and vessels, including vessel clearance, port documentation, crew services, cargo coordination, and maintaining communications with port authorities.

Customs brokers - establishments that specialize in facilitating the import and export of goods, including handling documentation, identifying tariff classification and valuations, calculating duties owed, and ensuring compliance with all trade laws and regulations.

Intermodal marketing companies - establishments that specialize in providing seamless door-to-door transportation solutions by booking, coordinating, and tracking intermodal shipments across various transport modes needed for freight to reach its destination.

Sample reports with detailed sales transaction data and valuation multiples are available free online.

More valuation data »

Related Industries:
Airlines and Air Transportation
Barge Shipping and Transportation
Railroads and Rail Transportation
Trucking Companies

Top